Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-03-05
SATURDAY. MARCH 6, 1887.
AN OLD STORY AGAIN RETOLD.

Minnesota letter. Nensy'
four years ago the writer first arrived III
this thriving town, then q mere pioneer
outpost on the Minnesota river, and found
it still in the throes of an excitement Owe
an event that has not a parallel in the his
tory of this or any other country, and
which a fortnight before had attracted
hundreds of people from every direction
and from great distances. 1t was no less
than the public execution of 50 Sioux In
dians, who had been convicted of the muir
der Of settlers in this state, in the vicinity
Of Lake Shetec. New Tim, Fort Ridgely
and the agencies. A period Of turbulence
and suppressed excitement had preceded
the outbreak.
One day in August, 1862, a party Of 1o
Indians came to the Big Woods to AZ
change their peltrIes for a wagon, but, for
some reason, they were unable to make the
trade as they expected, and left greatly
disappointed. They separated and four
of the number went on further and at some
point obtained a quantity Of fire water.
Liberal indulgence in this int1amed their
anger and increased their bitterness and
hatred that was before growing in their
hearts. Not a mile from the settlement
they met three or four men whom they
shot dead In their tracks, sinking the
cleaning tomahawk into their quiverlng
flesh and tearing the scalps from their
heads rode back to Redwood with the 9th
er six who ~reioined them. Great excite
ment followed, and it was about deter
mined at a council Of war held at the great
lodge, to enter upon a war of extermlna-
ton against the settlers and retake the
land which was once wholly theirs, and
wipe out all traces of the white man. 1t
was rumored at the time by the Indians,
and believed by the majority Of the people
that in the spring of go a big Man" pass
ed through the country northward with a
small guard, dressed as hunters and well
armed, who professed to be a subject Of
Great Britain, who inticed them to rise
and kill of all the whites in the state.
promising that when they had begun this
work they would have plenty OF help from
British America. This may not hare been
true, but the Indians who were most active
became more SO and urged on the propos-
ed scheme. 1.-THE men have now all gone
to the war" they said, land only old men,
boys and women remain. We can easily
kill them, and her plumber as we please"
The bloody scalps from Redwood were
produced, the war dance celebrated with
savage yells and songs, while the unsus-
pecting whites slept without knowing the
danger which hung over them.
The carnage commenced the following
day at the Lower Agency and inaugurated
q reign of terror throughout that region.
The story Is one Of horrid butchery, dia-
bolical outrage and fendish cruelty, from
which the mind shrinks in horror, and
causes us to pass over the relation of it
with but a glance at the ferocity and bar
barism Of the w%retches, some Of whom
met a justly merited punishment at this
place.
The Indians after their capture by the
military, were confined in a low, long log
building, and on the Monday previous to
the date set for their execution the 80 con
demned were taken out and placed in an
apartment separate from the rest. The
reading of the death warrant had no per
ceptibla effect on them, but they smoked
their pipes with that stolid Indifference
Characteristic OF the race, refilling the
bowls when exhausted and apparently en-
ioying the scens in much comfort.
The Indians seemed to care nothing
about the preparations for the execution;
many confessed their implication in the
massacres, and boosted of the number they
had slain. One day was set apart before
the execution. when each of the condemn
ed was permitted to send for two or three
relatives to bid them farewell. Butin the
interview with wives or children no emo
ton was displayed, while in two or three
cases those who were inclined to take a
humorous view of the surroundings at
tempted a joke. Ta-li-mi-ma was sending
word to his relatives that they must not